Here We Go Again

Calls for Tricare Restrictions Sound all too Familiar

CAPT Marshall Hanson, USN (Ret)

While Charles Lane included facts in his March 25 Op-Ed entitled Tricare the Untouchable, his information is a bit dated.  That which was published echoes past Pentagon press release that have been made over the last three years, which have spawned dozens of columns nearly identical to Mr. Lane’s, parroting the need to raise TRICARE fees for military retirees.

ROA President Meets with SecDef

New SecDef Sets Stage for Engagement in MSO Community

Col. Walker M. Williams III, USAF (Ret)
ROA National President

Last Thursday and Friday, ROA’s National President attended an ongoing series of two-day Secretary of Defense Roundtable discussions with military service organizations and veterans service organizations.  This was the first roundtable with the new SECDEF, Secretary Chuck Hagel, and he spent over an hour with the group.  Other briefings and discussions were with key OSD and Service  personnel.

Veteran Unemployment is Only Half the Story

Media coverage fails to identify soaring rates among Reservists

Keith W. Weller
ROA, Director of Communications

A recent Washington Post article entitled From Front Line to Unemployment Line offered readers a glimpse of the unemployment challenges facing veterans. Author Greg Jaffe cites the circumstances of four veterans whose combined transition experiences and lingering employment challenges are simply unacceptable. However, the article is remiss in its failure to mention the distinct differences between veterans of active service and members of America’s Reserve and National Guard.

Reserve Affairs Officers

Integrating Active and Reserve Components for a more Affordable and Efficient Force

Colonel Paul G. Shelton
U.S. Army Reserve AGR

The Department of Defense recognized more than five years ago the need to institutionalize the reserve components as an operational force.  In 2008 the DoD issued a directive to promote and support the management of the reserve components as an operational force. The Services followed with their own brands of implementation.  On September 4th 2012 Army Secretary John McHugh issued the Army Total Force Policy.  Total Force means all components (Active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve) working together, contributing their unique capabilities and characteristics to support combatant commanders’ requirements as an Army, not as a predominantly active or reserve force.  The expectation was a force balanced among various components so as not to over-tax one over another or retain force structure in one over another.  The Army is reducing the size of its active component relative to the size of its reserve components.  This is creating slightly greater parity between active and reserve components.  The increased parity calls for greater integration of the Active force, Army Reserve and Army National Guard.

Countdown to Cuts

Two budget events are scheduled in March that are confusing messages about potential cuts to defense.  Sequestration is followed three weeks later by the end of the current funding resolution.
On March 1, sequestration is automatically scheduled to arbitrarily cut as much as $43 billion from the Pentagon's budget this year.  On March 27, the funding authorization for the existing continuing resolution (CR) runs out.  Congress is confronted with the challenge of resolving both financial conundrums before time runs out.